Daily Republican., 1887-12-23
he held the door open for them to pas

marion dreaded to enter. She could
not quite trust herself unprepared to
meet his wife.
MAKE yourselves ct home" said tb
doctor. hospitably, As he ushered them
Into room SO bright and cheerful that
Marion thought sse had never seen its
like before. Then be hurried about.
passing chairs and helping them off
with their damp wraps.
Marion stood back Of the others, ont
OF the bright light, bat at length ne
came to her, and lhen-one glance, and
ne stood for moment bewildered, as
though dou biting his own senses Bntl
quickly recovering himself, he stepped
forward
"Allow me-" he said huskily.
She ga v hts hand trenDie y. he rails.
cd her cloak, but he turned abrapi IL
away without looking 1t her again.
Then the door was opened sently, anC
lady entered. Marion held her hand
against her ttrobbing ntart and raised
her eyes
She saw q small. graceful agure. al
bright, pleasing c0untenAnoe, nos heAu
tiful, yet she seemed lovAble sort Of
person, - she hastenod toward Kate
and Helen, expressing her sympathy
for tho!r mfshap so pretrily, and then
bustling about seemingly anxious To
make her unexpected guests as com
Portable as possible.
he had seemed to ignore her presenca
And she had 80 longed to SOC him, had
prayed to meet him only ono. again!
"And was 1t for this?" she wondered
sorrowfully. She could have lived
lnn0 honntI9 hat kaA tv
while she thought he was unmarried; /;
but uow-what would her future bs II
this woman was his wife?
J "We missed You both at the church
tonight" said Helen, ~, sitter q while
their hostess seated hsrself near them.
"But OF course We supposed that the
, storm had prevented yon from coming -
"Oh, no! would have bravod that"
| she replied, land, In fact, wa were prt.
pairing to 90 when Brother harry wa.
called away In an opposite direction to
attend a patient, and OF course had tc
| remain at home"
, Brother Harry! Marion brea.hHf'
freely opce more. This, then, was the
-. favorite sister of whom he bad so Otter
D spoken. How thankful shs fsl,i
The gentleman had joiaed them y
, while before, and now, as the hour wa,
. growing late, and ell had become
thoroughly warmed and refreshed b,
Q drauahts Of smoking coffee, they beaar
Q making preparations for departure
!, After thanking tue doctor and hts siste
o TOR their Rreat kindness. they all unitet
In extending on invitation to them II
l. spend Christmas afternoon and evening
G ut the old farm house, and the invita-
o tion was accepted.
As they passed out. Marion, in tn
4 midet OF tho throng. did not take par
o in their animated conversation, but wa
d proceeding quietly along, when sud
% denly In the darkness o hand wa
clasped in hers, and voice whis
/. pered,-
a "Mar!on, my darlinRW
"Harryr'
, The hand tightened lts clasp for
n moment, aud then with ths others the
|, wore out In the storn n
/, But Marion did not mind the ffeezlG
air and the flarcs gale now, for he
T. heart WAS hsppy-'happy once more /
; all those many yesrs.
y He stepped forward to assist her int
the slei2h.
a "You will come Tomorrow" sh
=, asked, fslteringly.
~ "Surelyp
q Then, ~ he lifted her gently 10, b
~ held her for q moment, as though un
20 willing to have her leave him.
to A calm peace lay over all the land o
al Christmas morning. The storm hi
- ceased, the wind was still, tbs puI
~ white snow alone remained as o e.en
40 reminder OF the tempest.
3, At the Fielding home there SCENE
- every prospect of very "merry Cnris
20 mas" and merry it was indeed.
-. Just before dusk the doctor and b
AZ sister arrived. They were warmly We
comtd by the Field!ngs and Hele
D. ushersd Julia into the midst OF I'll
10 group In the sitting room ard ssate
1e her before the Are. Then Harry GAN
"a in, bowipg to all 10 mis- easy, g:aoef'
" way.
se Hs was certainly q handsome, di
~ tiDguished looking fellow. and Mario
felt decidedly proud Of him-proud
the sweet consciousness that his 10y
o. was still ali her own.
10 At frs; after entering he became IL
st terested la conversation with Uno
II Amos, and as he had not appeared
notice Marion particularly, she fe
10 somea hat disappointed.
Ie "Hs might have spoken, IL only fe
10 Words" she thought
n, But later on, q, Marion, des2stche
OF on some errAni by her aunt, was bu
ID riedly crossing the hall, she came fac
IL to face with him.
He had been apparently waiting fl
" sn opportunity to speak 60 her aud stl
rs when they met he rCmaiDtd silent.
or What ought she to dc? She had give
ID the offsnce-3he shoold be the one
ask forgivenese. EztepdlnR hor Whit
ID dimpled hand to him, sne asked falte
u, ingly,-
I'd Harry, can you-wiil you--evsr TO
IN give those thoushtess words"
10 s'They were forgiven long ago, no
a darlingl" he answered, as he drew h'
70 fondly to him; ard then he aeke'
OF 81 "And d-so you do care for me stii
e Marion?"
70 "Just the same as ever, Harry; ha,
re never Changed"
30 "Nor /; bnt had I only known this
ht you, We might have been spared taeI
ID many years of sorrow."
Dc A few evenings aIterward, no callt
.. sgain at the farm house Marion W,
alone as he entered, although she hs
ID not then expected hi u. He came 20
ward to her with outstreched arms
Q. my own Mnrioni' he said. Mir
,e foreyer!" Then he added, "You knos
ls my darling, that sister Julia is to
u married early Ia the new year, and the
to 1 shall be very lonely, and IL"
10 Marion mischisvously helped him.
p. "Aud then you will need . ne
Q housske eeper, Harry dear" she said
"No," he replied lovingly, "but
Is want . dear. true, loving wife,"
lie Burned to the Wstor's Edge.
TNe freight steamer Sau Vincen.
ne WAS burned TO the water's edge q